Trimming



Sept. 4, 1934.

W. C. VAN DRESSER TRIMMING 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Maoh 28. 1952 wmavimSePt- 4, 1934- w. c. VAN DREssl-:R 1,972,412

TRIMMING Filed March 28. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4A wing aww:

Sept. 4, 1934. w. c. VAN DREssER TRIMMING 1932 3 SheetsvSheet 5 FiledMarch 28 vll/[llana Q/vwc/wkw WIV/fama agresser Patented Sept. 4, 1934TRIMMING William C. Van Dresser, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Van DresserSpecialty Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication March 28, 1932, Serial No. 601,'708

22 Claims.

This invention relates to the trimming and upholstering of automobilebodies and the like.

In the trimming of closed automobile bodies and the like, it is thegeneral practice to form a panel which comprises a backing panel ofcardboard, ber board or the like, and a covering for this panel of someupholstery material such as broadcloth, velour or the like. This trimmedpanel is then secured to the frame Yof the Vehicle body, which frame maybe either wood or metal.

It is preferable to detachably secure this trimmed panel to the frame sothat the same may be removed either for the purpose of replacement orrepair should the same'become damaged, or for the purpose offacilitating access to the space behind the panel where window actuatingmechanisms and the like are positioned.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means for detachablysecuring a trimmed panel of the above mentioned character to a frame,which means may be incorporated in a construction Where the frame iseither woodor metal.

Further, the invention contemplates the provision of a detachablesecuring means for the above purpose which will include male and femalesecuring members having a snap engagement with each other.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of a securingmeans of the above mentioned character in which the male and femalemembers need not be accurately located with respect to each other, thusYeliminating the expense of accurately positioning the several members ofthe securing means on the frame` and trimmed panel.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of a securingmeans which will be simple in construction and which may be readilyassociated with a panel and frameA to accomplish the desired results.

Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become moreapparent as the following description proceeds, particularly whenreference is had to the' accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. A1 is an elevational view of a motor vehicle door 'with a trimmedpanel secured in place'thereon in accordance with the teachings of thisYinvention;

Fig. 2; is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the panel shown inFig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a sectional' view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig.1;

Fig.Y 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig.1; Y i

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly modied form ofconstruction;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig.V 2 showing a further modied form ofconstruction;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken substantially on A the line 8 8 of Fig.7; BB

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig.7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 10 10 ofFig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View of a 70 slightly modiiied formof element for use as a part of the securing means;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a fur'- ther modified formof construction; t

Fig. 13 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 showing a still 75 furtherniodication of the inventive idea;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 14-14 ofFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a metallicY frame memberwith connecting means constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention associated with the same;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken substantially on the une lf3-1s ofFig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a semi-diagrammatic perspective view 85y of a slightlymodie'd form of construction; and

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view` through the structure shown inFig. 17.

During the following description the invention k will be described asbeing incorporated in a'door 90 construction of a motor Vehicle'. Itisto be understood, however, that this embodiment is se'- lected only forthe purposes Aof illustration and that the invention will find equalutility' in securv ing other trimmed panels in position in the intelrior of a motor vehicle or in securing any trimmed panel to a metal orwooden frame of any desired character. f

Referring then particularly to the drawings o0 wherein like referencecharacters designa-te cor- 1 responding parts throughout all views, thenu-r meral 20 designates generally alvehicle doo'r, the lower portion ofwhich is provided in accordance with the usual practice with a borderframe 2.1:. fos The reference character 22ldesignates` generally atrimmed panel, and the present invention is di-A rected-moreparticularly to means for securing thispaneli tol the frame 2l in suchka manner that theV panel will b'el held. securely in position,I but 1:10

`` wires will provideY for the yielding of these wires to reinforce thepanel so that a backing panel of space behind the panel.

n accordance with the usual practice the panel comprises a backing panel23 which may be of cardboard, fiber board or the like. The referencecharacter 24 designates a suitable fibrous wadding material which isdisposed between the backing panel and the upholstery covering 25, theedge of the latter being folded around the edge of the backing panel andbeing secured thereto by glue or the like, in accordance with the usualpractice.-

vided at spaced points with odset portions 29, the

oiset portions of each wire being adapted to abut Athe correspondingoifset portions of the other wire of the unit. These abutting offsetportions are welded together so that the two wires are rigidly securedtogether at spaced points, but are spaced from each other intermediatethese spaced points. Each unit is secured in position on its respectivepanel by clips 30 which may, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 of thedrawings, span the oifset portions Aof the wires, the free ends of theclips projecting through the panel and being bent over to firmly securethe female connecting member to the panel.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive', of the drawings, the frame 2l is a wooden frame, and fixedto this frame at spaced points are studs 31 having heads 32 oppositelytapered to form the cam faces 33 vand 34'.k These studs are suitablylocated on the wooden frame by a template (not shown), the studs beingydriven intothe frame to positions where theheads ofthe studs are spacedslightly above the face of the frame, as illustrated in Fig. 4 lof thedrawings. c

, Itwill be noted that the openingsZG in the panel are aligned with thespaced portions of the Wires 28, and with these wires secured to thepanel 23,'.it will be obvious that this panel with the upholsterymaterial thereon may be secured to the wooden frame by pressingdownwardly on the panel to force the spaced portions of the wires overthe heads of the studs. lt will be obvious that the cam faces 33 of theheads of the studs'will aid in guiding the heads of the studs betweenthe spaced portions of the wires 28 and will also tend to spread thesewires until the cam portions 34 of the heads are engaged by the wires,these cam portions then tending to draw the spaced portions ofthe Wiresdown into enf gagement with the face of the wooden frame in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It will be understood that theresiliency of the to facilitate the engagement of the heads of the studsbetween the wires in the manner illustrated.

The wires 28 being secured to the panel adjacent theside and bottomedges thereof will tend relatively light gauge cardboard may beutilized. Further, by virtue of the fact that the openings 26 arerelatively large and the wires 28 are spaced from each other through amajor Yportion of their may be readily removed to provide access to thelength to form elongated loops, the panel may be secured to the framedespite slight variations in the positioning of the studs on the frame.

The upper edge of the trimmed panel is preferably flush with the topcross member 21 of the frame and the free edge of the upholsterycovering of the panel is preferably folded over the upper edge of thiscross member and secured thereto by a screw or the like 35 which alsoserves tosecure the garnish molding 36 in position. This garnish moldingholds the upper edge of the trimmed panel securely in position adjacentthe upper cross member of the frame, with the result that if it is notdesired to entirely remove the trimmed panel, the garnish molding 36 maybe left in position and the panel swung upwardly away from its frame bymerely disconnecting the securingmeans at the side and bottom edges ofthe frame.

In operation it will be apparent that in securing the trimmed panel tothe frame the panel will be placed in position and then forced towardthe frame to engage the heads of the studs between the loop portions ofthe spring wires 28. The resiliency of these wires engaging the cam.faces 34 of the heads of the studs will tend t0. draw the trimmed panelinto snug engagement with the frame. After the panel khas been securedto the frame along the side and bottom redges thereof, the garnishmolding may be placed in position and secured to the upper cross member21 of the frame. If now, it is desired to entirely remove the panel, thegarnish molding may be removed and the panel then removed by pulling thesame outwardly away from the frame, the wires 28 yielding to permitdisengagement of the loops from the heads of the studs. If it is notdesired to entirely remove the panel and it lis only desired to obtainaccess to the space behind the panel, the garnish molding may be left inposition and the panel disengaged from its frame only along the side andbottom edges.

Thus it will be apparent that the invention provides female securingmembers, which may be economically produced ,from resilient Wire stripsand which may be readily secured to the edges of a trimmed panel. Thesesecuring members are arranged to have a snap engagement with malesecuring members which are suitably secured to the wooden frame, and thestructure of the female securing members' is such that the male securingmembers may be engaged with the same regardless of slight variations inthe spacing of the male securing members on the wooden frame. The wiresbeing secured as they are to the backing panel adjacent the edgesthereof will reinforce this panel and prevent warping of the same eventhough a relatively light material is utilized.

In Fig. 6 a slightly modified form of construc-4 i tively straight wirestrip d0.v Cooperating with this wire strip is a second wire 4l havingoffset portions 42 arranged to engage the straight wire at spaced pointslongitudinally thereof. The two wires may be secured as a unitto thepanel by virtue of clips 30a which embrace the two wires at the pointwhere the offset portions a2 of the wire 41 engage the wire 40.

i Y t (nel ofthe io le edge form (if construction isolsclosed'Vin'whichithe'fs- -coirin'g rnernb'e'r 27 isfiiiedto the panel 'with themajor portion o f this rfember'onjthelfrontface of theba'cki'ng panel:"Itvtill `be vr'ioted "that"v this securinginemh'rA comprises Wires "28hhaving orlset portions` ZQB'LWhichfengage eachother 'anniYareweldedoethen f'llwi'hese WiresA` are, fhoizvever, also"piov ided'withoiset portionsfi "arranged to 'project through 1the openings 265 `formed`in the panel 23h." Clips 30"3 areprovided Yorsecuring the members'z'lbto the panel adjacent the edges thereof. i" i `"'VItWill `be apparentthat by virtue of this construction thebody portions of the members 2\7b'wil1be disposedorfthefront sideofthe backing panelf'so" thatftheforceexerted by this lnenber on-the panel will be distributed alongthejlength thereof. The oset portions {iiof tlie securing iner'nberwillproject'v througlifthe Vopenings' in'tlfie"r panel for engagementiwiththe heads of "the studs* whicha're secured"to :the Wooden* frameme'mberf AsVA in thefirst described form of consitriction, theresiliency-"of tlie Wir's' 28b "Will lroyicle for engagement anddisengagement of the samewith theheads of the 'studs which are securedtothe'wooden fratrie. i" 'In'liigY lla'slightly modifiedfformofjfeialesecuring element Vis disclosed as compiisingwires 5'0s'e'oured togetherat spaced 'points' lby the twist'- ed portions 51.' "Thse vportions arepreferably Tiatte'nedso that "the" spaced "portions 'ofthe Wire will liein the same plane, or'oppositesides of the twisted' portions',A a'nd'sothat ``furtherfthe lattened twisted' portions'of' the Wires: willlieflat against tl1`e`"'pa'nel to which they are secured. The Wires50` arepreferably provided""alsork with the offset port'ions`" 52 f'capa'ble'`r projecting through the openings formed in the backing pia'n'ely in thesaine manneras thlportions' of *Jl Wires 28b A' s' "'"In'Figl 12 afurther modification of the invention'is disclosed as"comprisingalfemale se; curing member '270. This"member "comprises" 'a pluralityof'wire loops 53 secure'dtgether and to thepanel 23C byclpS 30. It Will benoted that the free' ends of each Wire forming the loop 53"arereturn-bentso that thesefree endsbverlap a"'siif." `:ient extent to" beheld in "engagement with' each other by 'the clips30c.

' this'form of construction it ywill be apparent that the spacing of theWires throughouttthe body portionsof the lops'tvill prVi'de'jfA/orresilient'engagement 'of these loopswith the' vheads' of'the studsAwhich are"sec1`1re`d tothe" fratrie niernberfthe spaced portions'of theWires bei'rigaligned With'the openings 259,11; the back?.- ngpanel 230.7i In Figs. 13 and 14 a further modified form oi construction isvdisclosed in"wh`ich"the -Jfemale Wiresv 5.5 Whichmare spacdwfioin eachother throughout their entire length.v 4VThese wiresar',hotV'ei/erfproyided rvat spaced "points "with" iset portions 56 'whichproject through slots 15,7(f5orr`ied respective slots by keys,inxtheniannerillswith v the Aoffset mettons-thereof `and with the iall-metal constructions 'where inetal frange of niajlesecuringinemberforstud mayibe utilized.

.fraine'" member :'vffan all-metalconstruction.

fljfhfschaiinelineniber 'is providedat spacedipoints With"openings "6 1finto which* the ,shjanks '162 of studs '63 VIna'yhe vdriven."Thesestuds' are preferably provided Withrshoulders "fivwhich jengage'the resilient Wire" rriembers"fseclfiredtothe; ame ms' b' removablyCommented to' the .metal frame Figs.A =1 77 and 18 of the drawings thereis in' v substantiallythe 'saine mannerlas to Jthe disclosedamodification in Whichthe maleand female rnembers o fthe securingmeansare"re"L V4versed, thefefnale members being seelretp the n'itlirameiand the'nialeniembersbeing sel ciiied t0"""th`e trimrned`panel."By' reference vt' these` figures it Willpbe noted that there is'rsecured to' the metal banner tafsogfa" fem `1e ele *it 27e 'Which'rnayb'esimilar to' tliatillusi tfat'zi'm Fig; 2 ofthe drawingr- 'riniskei mem;is spot-Welded at spaced points, asdesignated bythe referencecharacter'VO'j toth 'web of j the "fires overlying the channel b'a.`

e' t0' ,themed 2?.e iS a dat Sheet metal strip this Strippreferablybeing provided with fgiues ,'13 .which per .the backmspasel sare bent into engag v e'nt 'therei'fitii asfcl` rly illustrated yin Figi18 o f' the" 'dr Wing'. y A v i fo'lth Strip" 72 @spaced EClrltS.aretars'i'l;

these ears being bent 'atright angles tothe plane of the strip and beingprovided with heads75 traviesa wth'reainaees Befana 34e similar; tq

titut the',

' frame.

ings in this member in the manner clearly illusl trated.

`The connection comprises male and female members adapted for resilientengagement with each other and so constructed that when engaged, thepanel is drawn snugly into engagement with its The female members are soconstructed that the male members may be engaged with the sameregardless of slight variations in the location of the male members sothat itis not essen'- tial that the male securing members be accuratelylocated on the frame or panel. The resilient wires constituting thefemale portion oi the securing means are inexpensive, and the femalesecuring members may therefore be economically manufactured on acommercial scale and may be readily secured either to the frame orpanel, dependent upon the type of construction in which the connectionis to be incorporated.

It will be noted that in each of the embodiments of the inventionillustrated the female portion oi the securing meansis formed byresilient members in the form of Wires which are shaped to provideelongated resilient loops. Thus loops are formed in some instances bysecuring two wires together at spaced points and in other instances ,bycoilingsingle strips of wires to form closed loops. These loopsconstitute elongated resilient sockets which are adapted to receive thestuds at any point' throughout their length. In the specification andclaims, wherever the term loop is used, it is to be understood that thisterm means not only a closed loop, but any construction in whichresilient members are spaced apart to clampingly receive between thesame a member 'such as a headed stud.

While the invention has been described with some detail', it is to beunderstood lthat the description is for the purposes of illustrationonly and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. Theright is reserved to make such changes in the details oi" constructionand arrangement of parts as will fall withinthepurview of the attachedclaims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a means for detachably securing a trimmed panel member to a framemember, a stud carried by one of said members, and means providingspaced wires carried by the other of isaid members for engagement withsaid stud, said wires being oi greater length than their range ofcontact with the` stud when the stud is in engagement therewith andbeing exposed for engagement With the stud throughout a greater rangethan' the range of engaged contact with the stud.

2. In a means for detachably securing a trimmed panel member to a framemember, a stud carried by one of said members, and resilient meansproviding an elongated clamping member carried by the other of saidmembers for engagement with said stud, said clamping member being ofgreater length than its range of contact with the stud when the stud isinengagement therewith and being exposed for engagement with the studthroughout a greater range than the range of engaged contact with thestud.

3. In' a means for detachably securing a trimmed panel member to a framemember, me-

l tallic means secured to one of said members providing an elongatedresilient socket, and a headed stud secured to the other of said membersfor engagement in said socket at any point throughout `of said members,and means carried by the last mentioned member providing` an elongatedresilient socket adjacent said opening, said socket being of greaterlength than its range of contact with the stud when the stud is inengagement therewith and said opening being of greater length than therange of engaged contact of the v stud with the socket.

5. In aY means for detachably securing a trimmed panel member to a framemember, studs carried by one of said members, and resilient wires xed tothe other of said members, said4 wires being spaced from each otherthroughout the major portion of their length to provide elongatedresilient sockets for engagement with said studs, said sockets being ofgreater length thanv their range of contact with the studs when thelatter are in engagement therewith and being exposed for' engagementwith the studs throughout a greater range than the range of theirengaged Contact with the studs.

6. In a securing means for a trimmed panel,

a pair of Wires having offsetr portions spaced throughout their length,the offset portions of said Wires beingrsecured together, and means forsecuring said'wires to the panel, 'the portions of said wires betweensaid oiset portions being spaced apart to provide a resilient socket. n7. In a securing means for .a trimmed panel, means providing wire loopssecured to said panel, said Wire loops being exposed throughout theirlength andconstituting elongated resilient sockets of greater clampingrange than their range of contactv 'with members to be clamped thereinwhen said members are in engagement with said sockets.

A8. In a securing means for a trimmed panel, a pair of resilient wires,one of said wires being provided with ofset portions spaced throughoutits length engageable with the other of said wires, and means forsecuring said wires to the panel, said wires together providingelongated resilient sockets disposed betweenthe points of engagement ofsaid wires with each other.

9. In a securing means for a trimmed panel, means providing resilientWire loops on one side of said panel, each of said Wire loops having anoffset portion projecting' through an elongated opening in said panel.p,

10. In combination, a trimmed panel including a backing panel and anupholstery covering for said backing panel, said backing panel beingprovided With elongated openings spaced along one edge thereof, andmeans fixed to said backing panel providing elongated resilient wireloops disposed between one face of said backing panel and saidupholstery covering, each of said wire loops being provided withY anoiset portion projecting through one ofthe openings in said backingpanel to the other face of said backing panel.

11. In a securing means for a trimmed panel, a pair of wires weldedtogether atspaced points, the portions of said Wires between said pointsof lili) weld being spaced to provide elongated resilient sockets, andmeans for securing said wires to a trimmed panel.

12. In a securing means for a trimmed panel, a pair of resilient wirestwisted together at spaced points throughout their length, the untwistedportions of said Wires being spaced from each other to provide elongatedresilient sockets.

13. In a securing means for a trimmed panel, a plurality of Wire loops,each of said Wire loops constituting an elongated resilient socket, andmeans for securing said Wire loops to each other and to the trimmedpanel.

14. In a securing means for a trimmed panel, a pair of wires, said wireshaving oiset portions spaced throughout their length projecting throughslots in the backing panel of said trimmed panel, and means for lockingthe said offset portions of said Wires in the said slots to secure saidWires to the backing panel in spaced relation to each other.

15. In a means for securing a trimmed panel to a metal frame member, aheaded stud secured to said metal frame member, and means providingelongated resilient Wire loops carried by said panel member forengagement at different areas throughout their length With said studs.

16. In combination, a metal frame member having an opening therein, aheaded stud having a shanl; portion engageable in said opening, saidstud being provided with a shoulder to space the head thereof from thesaid frame, a panel, and an elongated resilient vvire loop Xed to thepanel and engageable at different areas throughout its length with thehead of the said stud.

17. In a means for securing a trimmed panel to a metallic frame member,means providing resilient Wire loops Welded at spaced points to saidmetallic frame member, and means providing headed studs on said panelmember for engagement With the said Wire loops.

18. In a means for securing a trimmed panel to a metal frame member,resilient wire loops xed to said metallic frame member, and a flat metalstrip iixed to the panel and having ears struck therefrom for engagementwith the said resilient Wire loops.

19. In a means for detachably securing a panel member to a frame member,studs carried by one of said members, the other of said members havingopenings for receiving said studs and said openings being relativelylarge as compared to said studs to provide for registration of the studsWith the openings despite slight variations in the relative location ofsaid studs and openings, and means associated with the one of saidmembers in which said openings are formed providing resilient socketsfor clampingly receiving the studs regardless of the portions of theopenings into which the studs extend.

20. In a means for detachably securing a panel member to a frame member,studs carried by said frame member, and means extending longitudinallyof said panel member adjacent the edge thereof constituting areinforcement and providing elongated resilient stud receiving sockets,which sockets are adapted at different areas throughout their length toclampingly receive the studs.

21. In a means for detachably securing a trimmed panel member to a framemember, studs secured to one of said members, and a pair of Wires spacedthroughout their length and secured to the other of said members, thespaced relation of said Wires providing elongated resil-V ient socketsof greater length than their range of contact with the studs when thelatter are in engagement therewith, the sockets being exposed forengagement with the studs throughout a greater range than the range oftheir engaged Contact with the studs.

22. In a means for detachably securing a panel member to a supportingmember, a stud secured to one of said members, and a clamping membersecured to the other of said members, said clamping member having anexposed range of clamping engagement with the stud greater than itsrange of contact with the stud when the latter is in engagementtherewith.

WILLIAM C. VAN DRESSER.

